PremiAir chairman Graham Avery says that his company has “professionalised” its Blackbushe heliport facility, by rebranding it under the banner of the West London Heliport.

Avery believes that this will create more charter business for the operator, as PremiAir intends to have its own small fleet of executive helicopters residing at Blackbushe. “We feel that we will get far more charter business because of the facility we've got, and all of the efficiencies that go with it,” he says.

Avery feels that more business will be generated due to the fact that the West London Heliport is very appealing to pilots: “Pilots are very important, pilots recommend to their client where they should operate from. There are food facilities here and a business centre. There is a chauffeur service immediately at the doorway. We feel very confident that we can expand our charter, because of the services we are operating, added to this 'pilot-friendly' factor.”

In light of the increased activity, Avery reveals that fleet additions are expected: “We are negotiating at the moment on acquiring aircraft to enhance the fleet. This is in both the S76 size and Agusta A109 size. We are also looking at a Twin Squirrel. I intend to expand on what we were already doing while also looking to improve the facilities and identifying where we are at in the marketplace.

“The heliport will give the smaller helicopters access to a really professional facility, and from the smaller helicopters' side people expand into bigger helicopters, especially if they see a nice place to operate from as well.”

The rebranded facility is looking to offer an alternative to London's Battersea heliport, as Avery explains: “Although we are slightly further out from central London, the cost is more economical. If you get a bad weather pattern, which you quite often do with helicopters, you have got a nice facility to be in if you are stuck here.”